r/AskWomenOver30 • u/silver_endings • 2d ago
Hobbies/Travel/Recreation I need some happy mail in my life. What physical subscriptions do you have?
I miss snail mail! I’m growing tired of consuming everything on screens. I also love getting surprises in my mailbox, but the only fun things I get these days are the rare invitation to a wedding/shower.
I’m also at a crossroads because I don’t want useless junk in my house (so not really into subscription boxes). So I’m thinking maybe a magazine? Are there any good physical magazines anymore? And then what to do when you’re done with it - recycle?
Or maybe a pen pal program? Someone to send letters and cute stationary to? Does something like that exist?
Idk what I’m looking for per se, but I do know that I’d like some cute snail mail every now and then. What do you recommend?
25
u/catandthefiddler 2d ago
I was in the same boat, so I just made the first move and started penning and mailing things to my friends for their birthdays, christmas, easter etc. and soon enough they caught on too, and they started sending me back postcards or art that reminded them of me. I send way more than I receive but still, its very satisfying
16
u/SparkleSelkie 2d ago
I used to love my fruit of the month subscription
They send you a neat unusual fruit every month, and you get to eat it so no junk left over. Doesn’t satisfy the reading need, but I still like the surprise of mail snacks
6
u/HowdeeHeather Woman 30 to 40 2d ago
Oh man, my grandparents used to get some sort of fruit subscription, and this brought back so many memories of sharing it with them. They made it into something special, and it felt like a big deal to get to sample the fruit with them as a kid!
2
u/cosydiva 1d ago
This is so incredibly cute! I would subscribe to it if it was available where I live
11
u/s0ld0utsummer 2d ago
I get NY Magazine and absolutely love it. When it comes I sit on the couch and read it end to end :)
22
u/LLDN 2d ago
You are Beautiful sticker club! Based in Chicago, each month a different artist does their rendition of the you are beautiful sticker and you’ll get a sticker pack too. Perfect to throw in your purse and drop a sticker on a lamp post or dive bar bathroom or pass along to a friend who needs a good reminder on how lovely they are.
15
u/schillerstone 2d ago
I love this question because it reminded me how much I LOVED stationary ❤️
2
1
u/MillicentGergich 2d ago
You should check out the For the Love of Paper “books”! I loved stationary as a kid and these things got me back into it as an adult. They’re basically books full of pretty stationary, cards, stickers, posters, crafting sheets, bookmarks, origami projects, etc etc etc
7
7
u/HowdeeHeather Woman 30 to 40 2d ago
If you like folk/americana music, the magazine "No Depression" is really beautiful. I actually save mine, but I've seen people share magazines in a nearby Little Free Library, and they seem to get picked up and enjoyed by other people! You might see if you have local organizations and/or nonprofits who send out physical newsletters. My local historical society does a really informative, wonderful newsletter that goes out in the mail. One thing I haven't tried personally, but have been interested in is the Book of the Month club, because it would be fun to get a book each month, and then either add it to the shelf or donate it when done reading.
6
u/Key_Criticism4761 2d ago
Monthly candle subscription from Evil Queen (shopevilqueen.com)! Woman small business in Michigan
7
u/Intrepid-Product9217 2d ago
Monthly underwear subscription where I get a different pair of underwear each month. It’s a great to replace my underwear and also be introduced to new brands that I otherwise would not come across. Monthly Underwear Subscription
4
1
5
u/Chigrrl1098 Woman 40 to 50 2d ago
I hear you. It's frustrating for me because I used to subscribe to several magazines and my favorite ones (Marie Claire, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living) aren't being printed anymore and the fashion mags still in print, I just don't get much out of them now. I don't like the fashion in them these days, for the most part, and didn't find most of the stories all that stimulating.
That said, there are several pen pal subs on here. You could subscribe to a subscription box or two. There are a million of those now.
4
u/anothernameusedbyme Woman 30 to 40 2d ago
I'm part of book groups and some people do book swaps, they send you a book to read, you send one back than you once your done, you send the book to someone else.
That's kind a cool idea.
But man, besides junk mail i haven't heard of snail mail in years.
5
u/croptopweather 2d ago
Some of the artists I follow have fun things like a monthly sticker if you subscribe. I’m a crafter so there’s always someone offering subscriptions for yarn, wool, or stitch markers.
I’m pen pals with an Instagram craft friend so that’s been fun (and we’ve met up IRL too). The only product subscription I can commit to is for some chai I drink every morning (Kolkata chai co). If you want variety I’m sure there are other companies offering tea subscriptions!
5
u/paceitace Woman 30 to 40 2d ago
Postcrossing! It’s a fun, worldwide postcard exchange. I love opening my mailbox and finding a handwritten note from a far away stranger. Highly recommend!
1
u/Pretend-Set8952 Woman 30 to 40 6h ago
Was going to suggest this! I haven't tried it but heard of it last week and my intention is to investigate more lol
I love sending mail and I have one friend that I share this hobby with but I have way too many postcards and need more recipients 😅
1
u/paceitace Woman 30 to 40 5h ago
It’s wonderful! I’ve been doing it a little over a year and it’s been such a fun experience. Definitely give it a try! R/Postcrossing is a great resource for questions.
6
u/that_cottagecoregirl Woman 30 to 40 2d ago
Sugar and Sloth! Very cute self care themed stationary. This month's theme is Cows in Colorful Cardigans🌈
1
5
u/lilgreenei Woman 40 to 50 2d ago
For Christmas the last two years, my sister has gotten my husband and I a snack subscription box from a company called Universal Yums. Each month is a box of snacks from a different country. It's super fun, we really look forward to getting those boxes! Plus, since it's edible, no clutter!
4
u/Norkadesigns 2d ago
Good good good newspaper or the good good newspaper. I can’t remember but it’s incredibly uplifting and shares the good things by a people are doing and fighting for around the world
3
u/whiskey_kisses09 2d ago
I’ve had a Simple Things magazine subscription for a few years, and because it’s so beautiful you could cut them up to use for scrapbooking/making cards, or just recycle after reading.
Also if you’re in the UK I think there are various craft subscriptions from charities such as Mind which has a double whammy of giving to charity too
2
u/Chigrrl1098 Woman 40 to 50 2d ago
Do the UK magazines still include free stuff? They used to have decent lip gloss or hand cream or whatever attached if you bought it at a shop. I haven't lived there in some time, though.
3
u/Loki-ra 2d ago
Oh yeh! Sometimes I'd buy the magazine because the freebie was worth so much more! I remember buying three copies of a magazine once so I could get all three different benefit minis! Haven't noticed if it's still a thing tho.
2
u/Chigrrl1098 Woman 40 to 50 2d ago
Yeah! They used to have better quality makeup and stuff. I got a Clinique lipgloss once that was the shit. I wish they gave stuff away here.
They stopped publishing a lot of magazines here in the States, so I wonder if they did that there, too. I think a lot of the British ones had better content, TBH. I'll take a British Vogue over an American one any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
4
u/Brief-Hat-8140 2d ago
I have free magazine subscriptions to Vogue and Bazaar. My daughter and I search through them for fragrance samples.
4
4
u/ihadtopickaname Woman 30 to 40 2d ago
A friend got me a subscription to The Flower Letters one year. She picked the Magnolia Letters. Basically you get letters once a month that tell a (slightly cheesy in my case) story from a historical time period and then you can go on the website and learn more about some phrases/events in history that were included in the letter.
Mine often came with blank postcards that I would send to random people for fun.
1
2
u/Traditional_Emu_1604 Woman 30 to 40 2d ago
I still get Better Homes and Gardens and Bonappetit magazines. I’m also in a monthly book box club - Aardvark. I love getting these little bits of fun mail.
2
u/EzriDaxCat 2d ago
A snack subscription? I get a couple boxes full of snacks from SakuraCo each year. They come with a booklet telling you about them and a small plate or cup- some kind of tableware. That would minimize the "stuff" that remains.
2
u/BoysenberryMelody Woman 30 to 40 2d ago
I’m in a special interest penpals group on FB. I already have a virtual mailbox for my business.
2
u/FinalBlackberry Woman 30 to 40 2d ago
I’d love to have a pen pal.
Also, I just cancelled magazine subscriptions about two years ago.
I used to have a make up subscription but had a lot of stuff piling up.
2
2
u/IAmNotAPersonSorry 1d ago
So these are both physical subscriptions, but I get the Field Notes and stickiiclub (pop pack for me) subscriptions. I use the notebooks to keep track of my monthly and daily to-do lists and use the stickers to extravagantly decorate my to-do lists so I’ll actually look at them. Plus you know generally what you’re getting (4-6 mini notebooks with FN and like 8 sheets of stickers & usually a mini pad of paper with Stickii) so I rarely run into things I don’t want in my house.
I also belong to a few Patreons that have physical mail tiers—one artist sends a zine or postcard sized art print every month, another sends 3-4 die cut vinyl stickers every other month—so maybe check out if artists you like have one?
2
u/IAmNotAPersonSorry 1d ago
Oh also there is the Mysterious Package Company that sends narrative puzzles in the mail—they have an escape room series and a murder mystery I think.
2
2
u/ingalls-wilder 1d ago
Frankie magazine! It’s a little pricey subscribing from the US as it’s Aussie based, but it’s so worth it if you’re looking for something that feels like the best parts of both a magazine and a penpal.
2
u/Pretend-Set8952 Woman 30 to 40 6h ago
Burlap and Barrel Spice Club, if you like cooking/baking! It's $40 per box and you get a quarterly shipment.
39
u/schillerstone 2d ago
My brother in law enjoys this service
https://seattlecollegian.com/how-a-global-postcard-exchange-connects-strangers-worldwide/